Mark Haygood, a third-year psychiatry resident at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, was recently elected as the 2013-2014 Chair of the Assembly Committee of Member-in-Training representatives (ACOM) of the American Psychiatric Association.ACOM is the representative legislative body for members of the American Psychiatric Association who are enrolled in psychiatric residency and fellowship training programs.
As chair, Haygood will represent the approximate 5,000 psychiatry residents in the United States at the APA Assembly.
“As the ACOM chair, my goal is to represent my peers’ core values and implement policy changes as necessary that will affect their training and future career in psychiatry,” said Haygood, of Gadsden, Ala.
According to ACOM’s selection process, seven residents are selected as members-in-training deputy representatives, who then have an automatic succession to the representative position. New deputy representatives are then selected. These 14 residents compose ACOM, from which the representative chair is chosen.
While Alabama psychiatric residents have served as representatives in years past, Haygood is the first Alabama resident to serve as ACOM Chair.
“I have an interest in organized medicine,” said Haygood. “I sought a national position through the APA with a goal to determine how to maximize psychiatric awareness in society and determine ways to effectively treat underserved populations with mental illness.”
Haygood earned a master of science degree in microbiology from Jacksonville State University and a degree in osteopathic medicine from the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
“I am extremely honored and excited to work with such an outstanding group of residents in the APA Assembly,” said Haygood. “I plan to be available to assist with changes that can improve our profession, resident needs and patient care.”
